Jagad Rakshaka Perumal - He Who Is The Savior Of The Earth!



The 8th temple in the list of Divya Deshams of Maha Vishnu is the Jagad Rakshaka Perumal temple situated in Vadakurangaduthurai in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Maha Vishnu in the form of Jagad Rakshaka Perumal and His consort is Devi Pushpavalli thayar, a form of Maha Lakshmi.

There are many beautiful legends associated with this temple.

We all are familiar with the legend of the Asura Hiranyaksha who forcibly took Bhumi Devi and hid her inside the oceans, and how Maha Vishnu in the form of Varaha, fought with him and brought Bhumi Devi to the land. It is believed that Varaha Swami tore into the earth at the place where the temple is now situated. In fact, there is an empty space in the sanctum next to the idol of Jagad Rakshaka Perumal and this space is believed to be the centre point of the earth. Also, it is believed that all the celestial beings gathered here together to hail Varaha Swami and as a gathering is called as Koodal in Tamil, the place came to be called as Thirukoodalur.

As per another legend, King Ambarisha built this temple in honour of Maha Vishnu. The king was a staunch devotee of the Lord. Once he incurred the wrath of Rishi Durvasa who conjured up an angry being and told him to attack the king. Maha Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra came to the king's rescue and destroyed the being. Then it started following the Rishi Durvasa who, after approaching the Trimurty Devas, finally sought the king to help him. The king helped him by requesting Maha Vishnu to call back the Sudarshana Chakra. The presiding deity of the said temple is also referred to as Ambarisha Varadar.

There is one more legend wherein all the rivers came to Kaveri Nadi to cleanse themselves. Kaveri prayed to Maha Vishnu to help her find a place where she could cleanse herself. The temple is said to be the place where Maha Vishnu blessed Kaveri. 

The deity is also referred to as Vaiyam Katha Perumal as He rescued the earth. 


A parrot used to live in the temple complex and would bring a blackberry fruit to the deity every day as an offering. It was eventually shot by a hunter and fell down, uttering 'Hari, Hari!" Maha Vishnu appeared before the parrot and helped it to remember its previous life-forms.  Thus, Maha Vishnu is worshipped as the savior and salvation of all life-forms here. 

This temple is associated with Ketu Graha among the Navagrahas. Also, there is a natural conch-shape on a jackfruit tree near the temple which is worshipped by the devotees. 



As in every temple of Maha Vishnu, there are shrines for Ramanuja, Andal Devi and the Alvars, alongwith the shrines for the main deities Jagad Rakshaka Perumal and Devi Pushpavalli whose shrine faces the south. 

Om Namo Narayanaya!

Om Jagad Rakshakaaya Namaha!

Comments

  1. LakshmyMarch 16, 2023 at 9:51 PM

    Thankyou Deepa, for this lovely information.. Beautifully explained it.

    ReplyDelete

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